Dale Edie became Hancock County’s first Special Olympics World Games gold medalist in 1995. Edie captured his gold medal with a victory in the 25-meter backstroke at the ’95 Games in New Haven, Conn. Over his career, Edie has achieved 117 Ohio and Area 3 Special Olympics medals in swimming, tennis, the softball throw, track and field and bowling, competing as a member of the Blanchard Valley School. Edie, who began swimming at the age of three through the Blanchard Valley School program at the YMCA, earned two gold medals in the 25-yard backstroke and the 25-yard freestyle and a silver in the 100-yard freestyle relay at the 2001 Ohio Special Olympics aquatics championships.